Puzzle board



Patented Feb. 2, 19276.

VIRD L. MAHURIN, OF PRINCETON, MISSOURI.

PUZZLE BOARD.

Application filed April 1, 1925.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, Vino L. MArrUniN, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Princeton, in the county ot" Mercer and-State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Puzzle Board, of which the following'is a specification.

The present invention relates to a puzzle board, and aims to provide a novel and improved device of this character having a plurality of movable members of two dit'- terent colors thereon, which may be moved to various positions for forming cross word puzzles, members of one color having surfaces on the upper sides thereof for permitting writing thereon, while members of the other color are used for spaces to separate thervarious words, said writing matter being applied in such a manner that the same may be removed or erased after each puzzle is formed and applied again in solving the puzzle.

Another objectof the invention is the provision of a recess in the bottom of the board for receiving a small blackboard or slate to be used in writing the various delinitions for the words to be placed on the movable members.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device as above indicated, which may be used as a checkerboard, one set of the movable members being used forthc spots the checkers are moved upon, while the other set is used for the spaces between the spots.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device which may be used as a picture puzzle, the movable members having the writing surface thereon being moved to engagement with each other to form an even, flat writing surface for drawing a picture thereon, and then moved out of their respective positions that form the picture, the puzzle being to move the members back to the original position and again form the picture.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a slotted board having a plurality of members movable in the slots in the board, said members being held against turning movement on the board, each of said members being adapted to be arranged to en age the members adjacent thereto to provide an even and relatively large, Hat surface.

It is also .an object of the invention to Serial No. 19,869.

provide a puzzle board of the kind indicated, which is simple and substantial in construction, which can be manufactured economically, and which will be thoroughly etticientand practical in use.

Vith the lforegoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter.described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a planv view of my improved device showing the movable members ar- Y range d thereon,

Figure 2 is aksection taken on line 2-2 .of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figurge l, taken across the board opposite to the line on which Figure 2 is taken.

Figure 4 is a plan view similar to Figure 1, showing the movable members removed,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of one of the movable members,

gigure 6 is a bottom plan of the same, an

Figure 7 is a plan view of a pair of the movable members, ,showing the manner in which writing matter is placed thereon.

In vcarryinfr out the invention, the numeral 10 indicates aboard, which is substantially square in top plan, said board having a continuous groove 11 adjacent the edges thereo and parallel with said side edges. Inwardly of the groove 11 and parallel therewith is provided another continuous groovel 12, which is provided with portions 13 at each corner of the board communicating with the groove 11 and a'portion 14 communicating with said groove 11 intermediate one of the side edges of the board. Extending inwardly from the side wall of the groove 12 which has the communication 14 therewith is provided a series of grooves 15 rwhich terminate atY a point ad]acent the groove 12 at the opposite side edge of the board, as indicated by the numeral 16. All of the grooves are enlarged at their inner or lower portions, as at 17, which form partitions 18 between said grooves that'are T- shape in cross section.

1 Received in said grooves .iS a les 0f movable members lll having;1 enlarged heads illl on their upper ends, redaced neelrs ill. internndiate their ends and small heads i322 on their lower ends, said small heads :2:3 and large heads 20 being; el" square lernen tion in plan. The smallv heads l the movable members are received in the cnlarged portion 1T et the slots, the opposite side edges engaging the edges ol'- said slots so as to prevent turningi1 movement olf the movable members, while the enlarged heads Lltl are oi? sullieient size to permit the side edges thereof to snugly.' engage each other when arranged in slots adjacent each other.

There are provided two sets et movable members, each set beine; dill'erent in eolor Afrom the other set in order to elearl)Y distinguish a member ot one set 'from a meer ber of the other, the set ol: darler color being` designated bv the numeral 23,' While the set ot lighter color is indicated b v the nrnneral The ni( able members 23 are provided with writing1 surtaees on their upper side so as to permit eli-alli to be nsed tor writing thereon. its shown in Figure l the movable members Q3 which have the writing surfaces thereon are all positioned in the `grooves 15, While the movable members Qllare arranged in the outer continuous groove l1.

In the lower portion otl the board l0 is provided a recess 'Iier receiving a blackboard or slate 2G When not in use. The Wall :termina` the lower side ot the recess 25 has an inwardlyv strncl; indentation 27 ttor enraging in a small notch 2S provided in the rear side ot the slate or blackboard. in order to vieldably hold the slate or blackboard in the recess. At the enter edge and on the rear surface oic the blackboard or slate 2G is arranged a linger entreeineF notch 29 for slidingr the slate or blackboard ont of the recess. the wall 'Forming the lower side ot the recess beine' cnt away, as at 30. in order that the linger engrake'ingir notch Q9 may be engaged.

In operation. the two sets of movable members are moved to various positions on narines the beard by sliding the movable members through the various slots provided in the board, in order to provide a cross word puzzle design, eheelrerboard design, or to a. position. as indicated in Figure l for providing a snrit'aee lor drawing a picture puzzle, lt vvill be noted that when the movable members are positioned so as to lill all ol. the grooves l5 the side edges ot said movable members will engage the side edges oli' the movable members adjacent thereto in` order to provide a smooth, unobstructed surface.

llaviin;- thus described my invention, what l claim as new is:

A cross Word puzzle apparatus eomprising a board having,T a bounding' edge composed ont angularlv disposed lengths, the board being provided on one side with a continuons groove having; angularly disposed lengths which are disposed parallel with the adjacent lengths of the bounding edile of the board, the board being provided on the same side with a second continuons groove located within the first mentioned `groove and having angularly dis posed lengths which are disposed parallel with the adjacent lengths ol' the first mentioned groove and parallel with the adjacent lengths ot the bounilingr edge of the board. the board beinef provided on the same side with relatively short groove sec tions which join With the second mentioned groove at the angles ot the corners thereolE and with the first mentioned groove at points spaced from the angles of the corners thereof, the board being;r provided on the same side with a series ot parallel grooves located Within the second mentioned continuons groove. said parallel grooves being closed at one end and ioined at their opposite ends with one ot the lengths ol the second mentioned continuous groove. and .members mounted for movement along all et the Igrooves.

ln testimony whereof, l have atlixed my signature.

VIRD li. MAHURIN. 

